Flash lamp structure for cameras



April 12, 1932. H 'r. HIPWELL FLASH LAMP STRUCTURE FOR CAMERAS 'Filed Oct. 13, 19st mgpaawgs Patented Apr. 12,1932.

HARRY '1'. HIPWELL, F I'PITTSE'UFRGH, PENNQWJVMTIA FLASH LAMP STRUCTURE FQE @AMEFAQ Application filed October 1 .3, 19%. Serial No. 488323.

My invention relates to flash lamp structures forcameras, and more particularly to a device for automatically eflfectin ignition of a photographic flash lamp simu taneously with the actuation of a camera shutter.

' One object of my invention is to provide, in a structure of the character referred to, means for properl timing the ignition of a flash to the operatlon of a camera shutter.

m Anotherobject of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to of enerally simplified and improved form.

ne form of. structure embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying draw- 16 ing wherein Figure 1 is a face view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 1s a plan view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe structure of Fig. 1, with the lamp sockets and reflectors removed, and Fig. 4

a0 is a view, taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

The structure is shown as including an ordinary dry-cell battery casing 5 such as commonly employed in connection with small flash lamps. The casing 5 will contain the necessary number of battery cells to produce the desired voltage. The cap 6 of the casing constitutes a base for a lamp socket 7 into which may be screwed a two-way socket 8, if desired. The sockets 8 carry flash lamps 9 such as are employed in photogaphic work, the lamps 9 each having a sible filament and being filled with combustible gas and arflasl powder or foil, so that when the circuit is closed through the lamps and the battery, combustion will be effected within the lamps to produce the desired illumination for photographic purposes.

. The lamps 9 are provided with reflectors 10 which are pivotally mounted on an extension 11 of the socket 7, and they can be swung back into folded position alongside of the battery casing 5, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that if the lamps 9 are removed, the structure is in compact form and can be carried in the pocket of the photographer, or conveniently acked for shipping. thumb nut 12 is provided on the threaded portion of the extension 11, so that the reflectors can be readily removed or can be clamped thereby in setposition.

A cylinder 13 is carried by a bracket-like extension 14 of the base 6 and contains a piston 15 that is normally held in its advanced position, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a compression spring 16. The forward end of the cylinder 13 has an outlet or nipple 17 to which a hose 18 is connected at one end. The other end of the hose is connected to a pneumatic shutter actuator 19 that may be of any well-known type, such as employed in ordinary bulb-operated cameras. The member 19, of course, actuates a shutter to expose the film of a camera 20. Pressure for actuating the device 19 is secured by retracting the piston 15 against the contraction of the spring 16 and ermitting the piston to be moved forward y by the spring and thus create the desired air pressure.

The piston is drawn to retracted position by means of a handle 21 and is automatically latched in retracted position by means of a trigger 22 whose free end yieldably bears against the side of the tubular shank 23- of the piston so that it will slip into a notch 24 in such shank and hold the piston retracted 7 against the force of the sprin 16. The trigger 22 has a thumb piece 26 w ich can be depressed to move the latch or trigger 22 to released position and allow the spring 16 to push the piston forwardly.

The circuit of the lamp is controlled by a snap switch 28 of any well-known type, and by a switch formed through the cooperation of a stationary contact member 29 and a movable contact member 30, the two switches 55 being connected in series with one another through a conductor 31 which is connected to the contact 29, the contact 30 and the bracket member being connected to one terminal of the battery.

The movable contact member 30 is mounted within the shank 23 and is prevented from falling. out of the shank when the piston is retracted, by the peening over of the inner end of the shank at the point 32. When the 5 shank 23 and the piston 15 are drawn to retracted position, the contact member 30 will be drawn away from the stationary contact 29. The camera being set in operating position, the switch 28 may be moved to closed 100 member 30 in engagement with the contact member 29 when the piston is in its forward position. This yieldable mounting of the contact member 30 prevents interference with movement of the piston 15 and also insures firmer engagement of the two contact members.

The contact member 29 has screw-threaded engagement with a bushing 34 that is insulated from the cylinder 13 by means of insulating washers 3 5. The contact member 29 is threaded into the bushing 34; and is, therefore, adjustable longitudinally of the cylinder, so that the engagement between thecontact members 29 and 30 and consequent illumination of the lamp may be timed with relation to the movement of the piston and the shutter. Thus for a quick-acting shutter, the contact member 29 will be extended into the sylinder a greater distance than when a slow-acting shutter is employed. A clamp nut 36 serves to hold the members 34 and 35 in assembled relation with the cylinder 18 and also as a terminal for the conductor 31, while a jam nut 37 holds the contact member 29 in set position.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a camera shutter, of an air compressor for actuating the same, comprising a cylinder and a piston movable therein, a spring for moving said piston, a

switch for controlling a source of illumination, and an adjustable operating connection between the piston and the switch, whereby the said switch is actuated upon predetermined movement of said piston on its compression stroke.

2. Flash lamp structure for cameras, comprising a battery casing and a lamp carried thereby, a switch for controlling the lamp, a compressor secured to the casing, and having a movable piston for compressing fluid therein, means for conducting fluid pressure from the compressor to a camera shutter, and a yieldable operating connection between said piston and the switch.

3. Flash lamp structure for cameras, comprising a cylinder and a piston operating therein, means for connecting the forward end of said cylinder to a camera shutter, a spring for normally holding the piston in advanced position, means for retracting the piston against the said spring, a movable electric contact member carried by said piston,

and a stationary contact member in position to be'engaged by the movable contact member during advance movement of the piston, the

contact members serving to close a lamp circuit.

4:. Flash lamp structure for cameras, comprising a cylinder and a piston operating therein, means for connecting the forward end of said cylinder to a camera shutter, a spring for normally holding the piston in advanced position, means for retracting the piston against the said spring, a movable electric contact member carried by said piston, and a stationary contact member in position to be engaged by the movable contact member during advance movement of the piston, the contact members serving to close a lamp circuit, and the contact members being adjustable relative to one another.

5. Flash lamp structure for cameras, comprising a ,cylinder and a piston operating therein, means for connecting the forward end of said cylinder to a camera shutter, a spring for normally holding the piston in ad vanced position, means for retracting the piston against the said spring, a movable. electric contact member carried by said piston, and a stationary contact member in position to be engaged by the movable contact member during advance movement of the piston, the contact members serving to close a lamp circuit, and the movable contact member having yiel'dable connection with the piston.

6. Flash lamp structure for cameras, comprising a cylinder and a piston operatin therein, means for connecting the forward end of said cylinder to a camera shutter, a spring for normally holding the piston in advanced position, means for retracting the piston against the said spring, the said piston being centrally recessed, a spring pressed contact member disposed in said recess, and a stationary contact member extending into the forward end of said c linder in position to be engaged by the sai contact member at a predetermined point in the compression stroke of said iston, for controlling a lamp circuit, the sai contact member being bodily movable into said recess upon continued movement of the piston past said engaging point.

In testimony whereof I, the said HARRY T. 

